Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha expressed confidence in his team’s ability to secure a win against India in the Asia Cup 2025 final, following their hard-fought 11-run victory over Bangladesh in the Super Four stage.
Pakistan sealed their spot in the final with a tense 11-run win, finishing with 135/8 in their 20 overs. Mohammad Haris top-scored with a 31 off 23 balls, while Mohammad Nawaz and Shaheen Afridi contributed with the bat. Bangladesh fell short, scoring 124/9, despite a determined 30-run knock from Shamim Hossain. Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf each took two wickets to lead Pakistan’s bowling attack, with Saim Ayub and Nawaz adding further pressure.
Reflecting on the win, Agha acknowledged that there were areas for improvement but remained confident that Pakistan would be better prepared for the final. “If you can win these kinds of games, you must be a special team,” Agha said, praising the bowling performances of Shaheen and Haris.
Haris, who batted at number six, held Pakistan’s innings together with a composed knock under pressure. Agha hailed his contribution, noting that Haris never complained about batting out of position and consistently delivered for the team.
While admitting that they were around 10-15 runs short, Agha praised the team’s bowling, especially with the new ball. “When you bowl the way we did up front, you create pressure, and it becomes tough to chase,” Agha said.
The team’s fielding also stood out, with notable catches taken by Saim Ayub and Mohammad Nawaz at critical moments. Agha credited the team’s improvement in fielding to the hard work of coach Shane McDermott, saying that everyone in the team had been working diligently to meet high standards.
Looking ahead to the Asia Cup final, Agha expressed excitement for the showdown against arch-rivals India. “We are a good enough team to beat anyone, and we will come on Sunday and try to beat them,” he said, adding that the team is fully aware of the requirements to win the summit clash.
